Dead Battery?

[Chris_Mueller]

I've had my DVX for about 7 months now, and I've noticed that when using the battery that was included with the camera, the life lasts for only 10 minutes, at best. I'm sure somethings wrong here. I just ordered one of the DVXuser 3500mah Li-ion's, and I'm hoping I can just start using this one instead of the old one.

Does anyone have an explaination for this? Does anyone think this may be a problem related to the camera itself, and not just the battery?

[scottchapin]

So what have you been shooting with? Certainly not just one battery that lasts only 10 minutes and not for seven months. I'm guessing it's a bad battery.

If the battery were good and drains that quickly, I would think that something is getting fairly hot, or at least very warm to the touch.

[DCERVENKA]

Do you leave the battery on the camera when not in use?

Page 8 of the manual under Always remove the battery it states; "If it is left in the camera, a small amount of current will be consumed even when the camera recorder's power is off"

[TC]

Wow, a quote from the manual. When's the last time you saw that? :P

[Collink]

1 battery? I wouldn't last a day with only one battery. I have 4, and 2 chargers, and I need to go ahead and buy 2 more 3500mA ones.

[Chris_Mueller]

Oh nuts, I thought I had posted in reply to the first one last night from my friends computer, but I guess it didn't post. To clarify, the battery I got with the camera held its full 1.5-2 hours in the first few months of use. I've noticed, though, that it lasts only for 10 minutes now and in the last month or so.

I never leave it or a tape in the camera when its not in use, as per the manual, but I do leave it on the charger until I use it. Regardless of how long its on the charger, it still lasts 10 minutes. Other than the battery I usually use it plugged into the wall (for event shooting and the like theres always a socket nearby), but its a pain to deal with it when doing artistic work.

So I guess the question is: should I expect batteries to die out so quickly? I have an old sony camera whose battery still holds 8 hours or so after a couple years, so I wasn't expecting this. Either way, whether the battery is just a lemon or if the problem is commonplace, it doesn't matter becuase I'll just pick up another from here.

[scottchapin]

Chris,

Battery lemons are not all that rare. I had a Sony D8 that went into the shop for repair, but in the end, I think it was a faulty battery.

Buy one, or better yet, two of Jarred's batteries and find out. If the camera is running fine of the AC adapter, then I would bet you nickels to dimes that it's the battery.

Jarred's batteries are an exceptionally good deal.

Scott